Barefoot Divas return to Australia and New Zealand with full hearts, overwhelmed and rejuvenated, after playing to packed houses in North America and Canada and receiving standing ovations, once again, for every single performance. The power of Barefoot Divas deeply-felt vocal performances combined with the intense, authentic cultural musical expression of the group resonated with audiences and communities as the tour gained momentum and word of mouth took hold across Canada and the United States of America.

Barefoot Divas broke new ground when they performed their critically acclaimed world premiere production Walk A Mile In My Shoes as part of the Sydney and New Zealand International Arts Festivals in 2012. They continue to mesmerize audiences as they share their message and their mission, through music and spoken word, to empower and educate women and children across the globe. Six women. Six distinct life stories tied to the complex history of Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea’s indigenous peoples. Six strikingly fresh voices that move this history down a new and compelling path.

The ensemble’s six-part harmonies and soaring voices is an experience to behold; performing a combination of original compositions in Aboriginal & PNG languages and a fusion of English and Maori (Te Reo) Barefoot Divas swing between acoustic roots and Latin infused soul. Standouts include the rousing Te Matapiko (Maisey Rika); Ngarraanga (Emma Donovan) dedicated to the stolen generations; This One Be Killer (Merenia); Two Minds (Ngaiire) Wahine Whakairo Whirimako Black and the emotionally charged group song Miminga. (Mother). Walk A Mile In My Shoes is a combination of spoken word, poetry and song.

Consistent with their philosophy and mission; Barefoot Divas outreached to disadvantaged communities and young women in California, Banff and Hawaii in addition to their concerts connecting with First Nations people in North America and Canada. Their tour culminated in concert dedicated to One Billion Rising for Justice in the Seattle Town Hall on Valentine’s Day. www.onebillionrising.org to end violence against Women and Girls is a one day call to strike, dance & sing launched in 2013 and is the largest recorded global social action event in human history.

Barefoot Divas was curated & is managed and produced by New Zealand born Sydney based Manager Vicki Gordon. The stage production Walk A Mile in My Shoes was written by Award winning Australian playwright Alana Valentine with Music Direction by Adam Ventoura.

Barefoot Divas continue to wow audiences where ever they go. As they prepare to fly onto Honolulu this afternoon, they leave their powerful footprint in Oakland California and not just with the audience who braved the freezing weather last night to come out to see them perform at the Zellerbach Auditorium in Berkeley. This morning the Divas drove out to meet 25 young women all housed in an underground office space for expecting and parenting teen girls in the Fruitvale area of Oakland. The students barely have any access to the arts, especially the performing arts and are involved in a very bare bones program. We are mindful of just how lucky we are to have the resources we have back in Australia and NZ. We were welcomed as the girls sang to us in Maori. Barefoot Divas reciprocated by singing an Aboriginal and a Maori song and they were all inspired to join in on Merenia’s This One Be Killa with dancing and singing. It was a very powerful morning for everyone with much love and healing and many tears were shed by all.

Barefoot Divasdepart for the US next Thursday January 30 kicking off a series of shows starting in Oakland California before heading over to Hawaii, Banff Canada and finishing with a special Valentines’ Day concert in the Town Hall Seattle Washington. Stay tuned for daily updates and for details about how to purchase tickets. Follow the Divas on Facebook as they take on America and Canada.

Australian Theatre Critic James Waites

“I felt like I was lying on my side on lush grass and these beautiful women performers were pouring nectar into my ear. It’s to do with the preservation of centuries old truths in the bodies of these women and they remind us how ‘emptied out’ so much of our own culture has become.”